Process and apparatus for burning liquid fuel



Nov. 6, 1928.

J, M. KELLEY PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed Jur 1e 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR. Ibiza 111. lzzcy.

aas ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 6, 1928.

J. M. KELLEY PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. 17101127/ /V/. /rlky 12d? A TToRNEYs.

UNITED sTATEs ...PATENToFFlcsx JOHN 1r. xnLLEY, or ROCHESTER, NEW Yonx, A ssIGNon, BY NEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, "ro

.. THE :PaofrANE conPonArr'IoN (192s).

' rnocnss AND'APPABATUS Fon lBUnNINe'f1.1111111) lFinir..

applicati@ mea :une 1s,

y The present invention relates to a process of burning liquid hydrocarbon fuels and is particularly advantageous with fuels having a dry end point not in excess of 150 F. and an vinitial boiling point of approximately 45 F. or lower and which will not develop a pressure in excess of 50 pounds per square inch at 100 F.,.and to a burner used infsuch process. 'An object of the invention is to make it possible to utilize some of the products of casinghead gas which have heretofore been deleterious togasoline maderfrom casing" head gas or have been waste products. An-

other object of the invention is' to store such liquid, deliverit in liquid form to a point of use, expand it to a gas by its release and vburn the fuel in its expanded gaseous'form. Another object of the invention is. to make it possible to employ a small flame suchas produced from a match to prevent the congealing of the moisture lof the atmosphereI as the gas issues from a small orifice and to utilize such flame for igniting the burner, after the gas has been properly mixed with air. Another object of the invention is to provide for the collecting flame from a match appliedto the walls of the expansion chamber adjacent-to the orifice will also ignite'the burner and cause the latter to maintain the walls of the orifice in a warmv condition during the .burning of the gas. Still another object of the invention is to use in connection with a burner for burning this liquid fuel, a fuel delivery device inwhichthe expansion chamber has a tapered discharge orifice and an inlet opening, the inlet opening being controlled by a valve which has. a stem extending therefrom and provided with a tapered portion operating in the tapered discharge oriicein order to regulate the flow fromthe latter. Y

To these 'and other ends, the'invention con-J sists of certain arts and combinations of parts, alll of which will be hereinafter deq 1923.. serial No. 645,945.

scribed; the novel features being pointed' out 1n the appended claims.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a con' and 4 Fig. is an enlarged section showing the connectlon between the fuel line and the fuel delivery device.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7, Fig. V6;

Gas escaping from the oil sands in thepreductipn of crude oil is known to the trade as casing head gas and as compared with comf mercial naturalgas, it is from .two to three times heavier and has a B. t. u. value per cubic foot at standard conditions of from 1500 to u-2500 as comared with commercial natural gas having a t. u. value of from 8 00 to 1000. 'I'he commercial composition of casing head Lgas is 4represented by the following com-v pounds:

Methane CIL, ethane (32H8, propane 03H8, butane CJlw, pentane 05H12, heXaneCGHw heptane CTHM.

These belong to the same chemical family I but with different physicalcharacteristics. The first compound is a gas about one-half as heavy as air and requiring about-the same pressure and temperature as air to liquefy. The second compound is also a gas at ordinary temperatures and pressures, requiring about seven hundred pound pressure and a tem er-q ature of 40, ahrenheit `to liquefy. he

third compound isa gas of ordinary pressure and temperature but liquefies at 250 poundsJ at a temperature of 63 F. The fourthco'mf pound is a liquid at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 32 F. The fifth compound is a'liquid at 60 F., at atmos heric pressure, and forms one of the lighter ractionof com`A mercial gasoline. The sixth and seventh products are the mainl constituents of com'- mercial gasoline.

los

Anot been heretofore generally utilized and have therefore been waste products. The lightest of these fractions have been used to some extent for producing what is known commercially as liquefied gas. This liquetied gas, however, has a Very low initial boiling point, in some instances -80 F., and develops an exceedingly high pressure at normal atmospheres 300 pounds at 70 F. The exceedingly high pressure developed by such liquefied gas requires the use of exceedingly heavy and strong containers, which makes the general use ofthe product prohibitive. Furthermore, in the use of such liquefied gas, it passes from the container in the form of gas, so that there is a gradual increase in the density of the gas given off which necessitates an adjustment of the air mixer of the burner in order to maintain a uniform flame, the low boiling point of such gas not permitting its being used in any other manner.

According to this invention a liquid fuel is preferably obtained by known processes from intermediate products of the casinghead gas which will not develop a pressure 1n excess of 50 pounds per square inch at 100 F. and which has a dry end point not in excess of 150 F. and an initial boiling point of approximatel F. or lower. These intermediate pro ucts not only are a disadvantage to commercial gasoline made from casinghead gas but are also a disadvantage to liquefied gas hereinbefore mentioned, as they tend in one to increase the vapor tension and in the other to leave a non-consumable residue in the containers. The liquid hydrocarbon obtained from these intermediate fractions may be readily transported in light and inexpensive containers. The most desirable commercial product does not develop a pressure in excess of 20 pounds at 100 F., thus making it possible to transport the product under the rules and regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission with reference to the transporting of dangerous articles other than explosives. Furthermore f by having an initial boiling point of approximately 45 F. or lower it is possible to draw the liquid fuel from the bottom of the container under the pressure generated in the container by the product and to conduct this liquid fuel to the burner through a capillary like tube, the liquid fuel being gasified by its release at the burner and by the use of slight warmth from the burner neutralizing the absorption of heat on the expansion of the fuel to a gas.

The form of container which may be einployed in connection with this liquid fuel' is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which 1 indicates the container proper .having a head formed with a depressed portion 1a provided with a screw threaded opening 2, in whichis fitted an externally threaded bushing 3. The bushing is formed with a passageway comprising a chamber 4 and an internally threaded bore 5 separated by a restricted portion' 6 in which an opening 7 is formed. In the chamber 4, a valve is arranged preferably in the form of a ball 8 to seat against the restricted -portion 6 in order to close the opening 7, there being also arranged in the chamber 4, a helical spring 9 which bears against the ball in hold it against the seat. With the chamber 4 a filling tube and di pipe 10 connects preferably through acol ar 11 which is brazed on,l the end of the tube in slightly spaced relation to the latter and is externally threaded so that this collar may be engaged with internally threaded walls 12 formed in the chamber 4. The projecting end of the tube acts as a guide for the spring 9 and is notched at 13 so that in the event the ball should seat against the same, it would not close oit the How of gas. lt is apparent that this spring with the internal pressure in the tank which may be as high as 50 pounds per square inch, will maintain the ball against the restricted portion 6 and prevent the escape of gas.

To provide against accidental displacement of the valve 8 from its seat in shipment, an externally threaded plug 14 may engage the internally threaded walls of the bore 5 and may have a tapered end l5 for engaging a similarly formed wall 16 on the bushing at the inner end of the bore 5, thus providing a tight fit which will prevent the accidental escape of any gas from the container.

In order to provide a tight joint between the bushing 3 and the container, the bushing has a projecting portion 17 on the exteiior of the container, and the face of this projecting portion opposed to the head of the container has a groove in which a packing 18 is arranged, this packing cooperating with an annular bead or rib 19 formed on the adjacent head of the container. To provide a vent in order to enable the container to be filled or for the purpose of controlling the pressure within the container, a venting means is employed comprising a port or passageway 20 leading to a valve seat 21 against lou ` the container as it is desirable to leave a space between the head and the liquid in order to Y prevent the complete filling of the container i and avoid consequent excess pressure in the is a surrounding shoulder or abutment 30.

- With this shoulder or abutment an externally threaded collar 31 engages, this collar being insertable in tvhe bore 5 to cooperate with the internally threaded walls thereof, so as to force the tapered end 29 against the seat 16, in order to form a tight joint with the bushing, thus making the connection interchangeable with other containers and dispensing with any other apacking material. In order that the valve 8 may be opened, a valve operating plunger 32 is mounted on thedispensmg means and extends through the connector 27 andl also through the head 25, its upper end being screw threaded at 33 and engaging in a screw threaded sleeve 34 which also acts to iirml hold a packing 35 about the stem 32. It is a parent that the turning of the handle 36 will effect the longitudinal movement of the stem, the loweringofl the stem effecting the movement of the valve 8 away from its seat to permit the liquid to flow from the container, and the raising of the stem permitting the valve 8 to` close. This stem is ypreferably only operated after the head 25 is connected Jto the container and it is apparent that as the head is disconnected, the valve will auto'- matically close.

/ The main flow from the container is controlled by a valve comprising a `casing 37 y fitting in the head 25 and having lan inlet 38 communicating with the head and an outlet 39 connecting with the service line, a reciprocating valve 40 controlling the flow `through the valve casing 37 and being operated through a handle 41. A pressure gauge 42 connects with thehead 25 and indicates the h to congeal moisture 1n the atmosphere at' pressure in the container,n While at ordinary I temperatures and elevations thecontainer will have an internal pressure suiiiclent to cause the iow of the liquid therefrom to the point of-use, it is desirable when the atmospheric temperature drops below .the initial boilin point-of the liquid or falls to produce t is pressure in the container, there is provided a valve connecting member 43 'secured to the member 25 and having a nipple 44 to which an air pump may be connected.

This nipple leads to a'passageway 45 coni trolled by a ba1l-valve'46 and also by a reciprocating ,valve 47. The openlng of the lreciprocatingvalve exposes the ball valve 46 whlch under normal conditions will be held to its seat 48 by internal pressure, but when air is forced intothe passageway the valve 46 will be displaced and such air under pressure will pass into the container above the liquid.

A burner which'may be employed for burning`this lfuel comprises a fueldelivery device embodying an elongated narrow expansion chamber 50 formedby a pliable tube'51 of material of high heat conductivity such as copper and connected at one end to a head 'zoI 52 preferably by forming a tapered Aend 53 i on one end of a tube adjacent a shoulder 54 andvholdinfr said ta seat 55 on the head 52 which engages the shoulder 54and forces the tapered end 53 firmly to the seat 55. The head 52,has a laterally projecting portion 57 in which a connector 58 -screw threaded at opposite ends, is adapted to be secured, this connector having the service pipe 49 secured thereto by a nut 59 which forces the tapered end on t e pipe 49-irmly against the connector 58.j `This service pipe 49 is what might be called capillary tubing in that the opening therethrough is v ery small, say about red end to a tapered three thirtyseconds of an inch, and readily 'conduct-s the proper amount of fuel to the burner and, at the same time, does not requlre a heavy pressure in the container. In

the casing 52 a valveseat 60 is provided with.

which, cooperates the tapered portion 61 of a valve member 62 which is externally threaded at 63 and is operable 'by -means of a handle 64 on the ,exterior of the casing. This valve member has a pliable stem 65 extendingtherefrom through the expansion chamber 51 and' this stem is surrounded by a closely fitting helical coil66 of tape stock 'which causes the liquid to travel in a. helical ath about t e stem 65 during its expansion.

by means of 'a nut 56` he end oft elexpansion chamberis closed preferably by aplug 67 which has a tapered orifice 68 therethrough, and inthis orifice the tapered end 69 ofthe stem 65 projects. It is apparentv that after the liquid has expanded in the expansion chamber, and there is the heat absor tion o`f-.the expansion from a liquid to a gas, t e fuel issues from theorifice' 68 as a gas under high pressure which tends the oriice, and the .amount of this pressure is determined by the adjustment of the tapered end 69 of the stem 65. After issuing lfromthe orifice, the gas enters, the mixing chamber 7 0 the bottom of which is formed adjacent the .end of the 'expansion chamber, an air inlet passage 71, the area of which is ucontrolled by a valve 72 preferably in the form of'an externally threaded portion 73 j izo s castin The mixing chamber is of novel construction and is provided with a return bend 75, the chamber being provided with a collecting pocket 76 lying beneath an outlet 77 to the jet openings of .the burner. In this instance, the ]et openings are formed in an annular rin 78 which lies in an annular groove 79 in a p ate or member 8O in which the opening 77 is formed. Closing the annulus 78 is a plate 8l and this plate together with the annulus 78 is held to the casting by a bolt 8:2 which `passes through the plate 81 and the opening 77 and is anchored in an opening 83 in the bottom wall of the pocket 76. The plate 8() is provided at one side with a series of parallel grooves or recesses 84 which intersect the plane of the expansion chamber 51 near one end of the latter. The annulus 78 has jet openings 85 formed therein, above the plane of the expansion chamber, so that an annular flame is provided about the top plate 81. The top plateprojects beyond the annulus 78 and in this way protects the jet openings against clogging due to spilling of matter thereon, such as results from the overflow of vessels, etc. The burner as a whole may be supported by a cross bar SG which is anchored by a bolt 87 to the underside of the in which the mixing chamber is forme This cross bar is so positioned that it underlies the air valve 72 and prevents the latter becoming displaced from the air openinfr.

'tln carrying out this invention the containers are preferably filled with the liquid fuel as described at suitable stations and are shipped to the consumers, the fuel being in a liquid state and the containers being of a size corresponding to the demand of the user. These containers are then connected to the apparatus employed by the user, the plug 14 being removed from the bushing 3 of the container and the dispensing head 25 having its connection 27 connected With the bushing through the sleeve 31. Thereafter, the valve plunger 82 is operated to permit the liquid fuel to flow from the container under the pressure therein by Way of the dip pipe 10 into the service line 49 tothe fuel consuming device. l

If the fuel consuming device employed is in the form of a burner, such as herein illust-rated, the user warms the expansion chamber 51 with an ordinary match and before the matchlis consumed,and, While yet playing upon the expansion chamber, turns the valve operating member 64 to permit Vliquid fuel to flow from the service pipe 49 into the expansion chamber 51 about the stem 65. In passing into this expansion chamber, the liquid fuel expands rapidly and turns into ay as, which issues under pressure through t ie orifice 68, the size of which is adjusted to correspond With the pressure of the gas, which varies with the temperature of the atmosphere. While the valve 62 and the needle 69 Work together, nevertheless the main control is established by the needle as the pressure built upon the expansion chamber will hold back the flow of liquid fuel by Way of the valve 62. As the gas issues from the nozzle or orifice 68, it projects with force over the air inlet into the mixing chamber and returns forwardly to pass through the jet openings by Way of the opening 77. At the same time, some of the gas passes through the jet openings 84 and is ignited by the flame of the match laying upon the expansion chamber. The giel having such a low boiling point requires but a small amount of warmth to turn it over or convert it into dry gas and at the temperatures ofl ordinary use flashes into gas upon its release. As this liquid fuel is under pressure, has a low boiling point and is extremely volatile, it would set up a freezing condition when issuing from a small orifice and this burner overcomes this objection by warming the expansion chamber adjacent the orifice 68 an amount neutralizing the heat absorption of the fuel in its expansion from a liquid to a gas and suiiicient to prevent this freezing action during the ignition of the burner, and this is maintained, while the burner is in use through the small jets issuing from the orifices 84. Should any wet gas pass from the orifice 68 it Will be projected with force across the air opening and into the mixing chamber, Where it will flow to the collecting pocket 76. This might occur should the operator turn on the valve before sufficiently warming the expansion chamber but as soon as the match is applied the gas will immediately light and will Warm the expansion chamber, and, at the same time, hold the wet portion in the pocket to be con-l sumed by the burner Without any danger of accident due to dripping such as is common in ordinary liquid fuel burners. As soon as the burner is lighted, the Warming of the 'expansion chamber prevents any lioiv of Wet gas. The form of the gas is such that it carries no heavy matter and therefore leaves no carbon deposits in the expansion chamber which would tend to clog the same or the orifice 68.

From the foregoing it will be seen that therehas been provided a process and an apparatus for burning liquid hydrocarbons of the methane series having a low boiling point. This apparatus embodies a container in which thefuel is held in a liquid state under a low pressure and having a valve in a dip tube eading from it. Said valve normally occupies a closed position and is mounted in a. removable bushing to which thel dip tube conneets. This bushing has a removable lug which seats aga-inst the wall of the busliing to close effectively the outlet from the dip tube independently of the valve. A vent is also provided in the bushing for controlling the rassure in the container. A dispensing hea detachablv connects with the/bushing and forms a tig it Connection therewith. This dispensing head carries means for opening the container valve so that the fuel may bev fed therefrom under pressure. It 'also carries meaxis through which air may be introduced 'into the' container above the liquid, and a ressure gauge through which the pressure 1n the container may be obtained. A valve: on the head controls the flow of liquid fuel to a suitable fuel consuming device.v The fuel consuming device'is in the form-of a burnerA which has an, expansion chamber adapted 'to be warmed by a` match or other small flame so as to insure the passage of the gas from a small orifice into the mixing chamber, the match or other ldevice employed for warming the expansion chamber being with-A out any further movementon the part of the user utilized for igniting the burner when the gas issues from the same. The burner has a mixing chamber beyond the air inlet so formed as to collect the wet fuel in such a position that such fuel will be consumed by the burner after the ignition of theI latter.

The burner has jet openings so arranged as` 'to play upon the expansion chamber after the burner'has been ignited to neutralize the heat absorption of the fuel in its expansion l fromaliquidtagasv 'n' What'I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I 1. The proce which consists in expanding into a chamber a liquid hydrocarbon fuel havin a dry end point not in'excess of 150 F. an' an initial boiling point of approxi mately. 45 F. o1"l lower and whichl will not developa pressure'in excess of 50 pounds at 100 F., dischar 'ng the expanded fluid from the chamber an permitting' it to further expand, a plying suicient heat at the point of escape m the chamber to prevent congeal-v ing' of the moisture of the atmosphere at the l orifice, mixing the expanded fluid with air,

and conducting a portion of the mixture to the heated area for ignition.

2. A burner for liquid hydrocarbons of thel class described, comprisin ,a'member formed with a central opening and grooves in the top of said member, a ring resting on said member about the central opening,J extending across vthe grooves and formed with jet openings, a

plate tothe ring to close the latter, a mixing chamber inthe form of a return bend having one arm extending under the i member and formed with a pocket below the central opening of said member and having the other arm provided with an air inlet, and

'a' fuel mixing device formedwith an expan- 1 sion chamber having an orifice discharging into the mixin chamber, the wallsV of the expansion chamer adjacent the'orice being of high heat conductivity and being adjacent f the grooves inthe top of themember so that a flame from a small flame producing device will warm the walls of the orificeto prevent the congealing of the .moisture of the atmosphere due to the rapid expansion land will ing across the groove, .a platesecured to the ringto 'close the latter, a mixing chamber in the form of a return bend having one arm extendixigiunder the member and formed.

with a pocket below the central opening of said member and having the other arm provided with an air inlet, a fuel mixing device.

formed with an expansion chamber having an orifice 'discharging into the mixing chamv ber, the walls of t cent the orifice being of high heat conductivity and being adjacent the groovesin the top of the member so that a .llame from a small flame producing device will warm the walls of the orifice toprevent the congealingA of the moisture of the atmospheredue to the rapid expansion and will ignite when the gas expansion chamber adjapasses from said ves so that the wallsl y of the expansion c amber adjacent the orilice are warmed .b the jet openings during the burning of the urner, an adjustable valve for controlling the air inlet, and a supporting member below the burner` arranged to limit the movement of the air inlet valve.

4. An apparatus of the classdescribed com prising a capillary service tube, `a delivery device connected `with said capillary service tube and having an expansionchamber with a small orice, the walls of the chamber-adjacent the orifice ,being formed of material of high heat conductivity, 'means for controlling the iow through said orifice, a' mixing chamber-into' which the gas from the orifice is exs panded having a pocket in which unvapori'zed fractions of 'the gas may be .collected and formed with a restricted discharge constructed to cause said heavy fractions to be picked u by the flow of gas through the mixing c amber, and a burner having jet openings through which gas from the mixing chamber is burned, some of said-jet openings being arranged in close proximity to the expanslon ch r 5. 'The-method. of generating-heat, which consists in storing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel having a dry point not in excess -of 150 1F.

and an initial .boiling tvlest as low' w c lgenerate as 45 F. or lower an a pressure not in excess of 50 pounds at 100 F. in`A an enclosed receptacleatatmsopheric temperatures, convey' the fuel by pressure so created and in liqui form toa point of applica-tion remote from the stored liquid, re-

leasing the liquid at the point of application from 'pressure' and ermitting it to expand as a gas and burning t e gas.

6. The method of generating heat, which consists in storing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel Ahaving a dry point not in excess ofy 150 F.

to compensate for the cooling effect due to the expansion, and burning the gas.

7. The method of generating heat which consists in confining a liquid hydrocarbon having a volatility gasifying on release to the atmosphere, delivering the fuel as a liquid from a point of storage to a point of use remote from the point of storage, releasing the fuel adjacent to the point of use and permitting its expansion as a gas, subsequently su plying the heat absorbed by the fuel in lts expansion from the liquid to a gas, burning the expandedfuel in its gaseous state, and utilizing heat from theburning gas to supply heat absorbed by the fuel in expanding to a gas.

JOHN M. KELLEY. 

